Raquel Regalado Balances Law Practice School Board Post And Media Roles With Teaching And Her Family Commitments

Growing up in the halls of radio studios as the daughter of two on-air personalities, Raquel A. Regalado was exposed to a wide range of characters from a young age.

That upbringing, in addition to observing her father Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado’s approach to elected office, has led her down an ambitious path: practicing patent litigation with Feldman Gale, serving as school board member for District 6 — which encompasses South Miami, Coral Gables, Key Biscayne, Miami and East Kendall — not to mention motherhood, teaching and hosting radio and television shows.

"I was given the ability from a very young age to be exposed to so many amazing public servants," Ms. Regalado said. "As a child, perspective is so important, and I was exposed to fantastic people who were doing fantastic things. For me [public office] was always attainable because I had met those people."

Elected to the school board in August 2010, Ms. Regalado’s priorities include lobbying in Tallahassee and Washington for more infrastructure funding, minimizing disparity between schools and placing restrictions on virtual schooling.

"If we’re going to give academic autonomy, it should come with a certain amount of responsibility," she said. "We can’t just say every child can take a class virtually and they’re going to have the same outcome."